Detachable antislipping device for shoes



Dec. 26, 1967 F. SMOLNlK 3,359,659

DETACHABLE ANTISLIPPING DEVICE FOR SHOES Filed Feb 24, 1967 INVENTOR FELIX 5MOLN/K BY you? ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,359,659 DETACHABLE ANTESLIPPING DEVICE FOR SHOES Felix Smolnik, Rheineck, Switzerland, assignor to Bonova Etablissement, Balzers, Liechtenstein Filed Feb. 24, 1967, Ser. No. 618,491 4 Claims. (Cl. 367.6)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The disclosure herein relates to a detachable antislipping device for boots and shoes and comprises a series of transversely extending wire coils carried by side frame members with the wire coils extending diagonally and transversely of the bottom of the boot or shoe for antiskid ground contact.

Among prior-art antislipping devices adapted to be attached to and detached from boots and shoes there are also those which comprise helical springs to function as antislipping means. Such known devices are tainted with various faults and deficiencies with regard to the disposition of the helical springs. When the latter are disposed crosswise, for example, pressure points are formed at the points of intersection, which make themselves felt through the shoe sole and give origin to an uneven bearing surface. Further, the kind of fastening used for the helical springs is unfavorable in these prior-art devices, as the spring ends comprise protruding wire-tips on which the shoes may be damaged and the wearers hands may be injured. The detachable .antislipping device for shoes disclosed by my present invention also comprise helical springs destined to function as antislipping means. Here, however, said springs are bent to one side and the other in zig-zag fashion, and the spring ends as well as the points of bend are fixed or locked in position on two frame-like side members, the latter comprising closure means which permit the attachment of retaining straps that are stretched over the shoe.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a side view of the antislipping device mounted on a shoe,

FIG. 2 is a top View thereof, the retaining straps having been omitted,

FIG. 3 is a front view of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 4 is a view of a retaining strap.

The device shown comprises a helical spring 1 made of stainless steel and bent in zig-zag fashion to one side and the other, the coil diameter of said spring being ap proximately a quarter inch and the wire diameter being approximately from .04 to .048 inch. The ends 1 and the points of bend or knees 1 are cast or embedded in downward projections 2 of two framelike side members 2 that are made of thermoplastic, semi-solid, deformable material such as polyvinylchloride, and said ends 1 and points of bend 1 of spring 1 comprise three windings embedded in the plastic material. In the embodiment shown the side members 2 are of circular cross-section. The projections 2' are disposed in opposite pairs on the two side members 2 so that the forward half portion of the device is similar to the rear half portion, and it is thus possible to attach the device in an inversed position on the shoe.

The two side members 2 at their ends comprise upstanding lugs 3 having undercut studs 4 on the outside which serve for fastening the device on the shoe. To such end two retaining straps 5 are provided of which both sides are formed with longitudinal ribs 5 to attain better adhesion on the shoe. Said straps adjacent the two ends thereof are provided with two holes 6 and slots 6' opening into same to permit engagement of the straps on to the studs 4. Depending on the use of both interior holes or of an interior and an exterior hole or of both exterior holes, there follows the appropriate regulation of length of the two straps 5 in any given case. The straps may be made of plastic or rubber and by virtue of their elastic tension ensure a good fit of the antislipping device on a shoe.

Thanks to its elastic adaptability to a shoe, the device may be used for any size of shoe. The helical springs cannot become iced in use since they are continually subjected to elastic deformation.

The connection of the springs 1 to the side members 2 made of thermoplastic material, effected by casting or embedding, affords not only a very economical manufacture but also a clean structural configuration without any protruding parts.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to a now preferred example and embodiment of the invention it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended, therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in the appended claims.

What I claim as new .and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A detachable antisl-ipping device for shoes including helical springs as antislipping means, characterized in that said springs are bent in Zig-zag to one side and the other and the spring ends as well as the points of bend are locked in position on two framelike side members, the latter comprising closure means including retaining straps that are stretchable over the fore and aft parts of the shoes, the framelike side members comprising downward projections and on both ends upstanding lugs having outwardly disposed studs that form part of the closure means, the helical springs that are bent in zig-zag fashion along a plurality of their windings on their ends as well as on their knee points being cast in said sidemember-lugs, and in which the helical springs extend in different transverse directions with respect to each other. 2. An antislipping device as set forth in claim 1 in which said side members are made of thermoplastic deformable material.

3. An antislipping device as set forth in claim 2 in which the retaining straps that are adapted to be attached to the studs of the side members comprise in each end portion at least two stud-receiving holes including a slot each, and in which the retaining straps are provided on both sides with longitudinal ribs.

4. An antislipping device as set forth in claim 3 in which the forward half portion of the device is similar to the rearward half portion in order to provide an inverse attachment of the device on the shoe.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,154,890 9/1915 Sauer 36--7.6 X 2,450,768 10/ 1948 -Pulver 36-7.6 2,538,182 1/1951 Young 36-7.6

FOREIGN PATENTS 297,411 9/ 1963 Netherlands.

PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DETACHABLE ANTISLIPPING DEVICE FOR SHOES INCLUDING HELICAL SPRINGS AS ANTISLIPPING MEANS, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT SAID SPRINGS ARE BENT IN ZIG-ZAG TO ONE SIDE AND THE OTHER AND THE SPRING ENDS AS WELL AS THE POINTS OF BEND ARE LOCKED IN POSITION ON TWO FRAMELIKE SIDE MEMBERS, THE LATTER COMPRISING CLOSURE MEANS INCLUDING RETAINING STRAPS THAT ARE STRETCHABLE OVER THE FORE AND AFT PARTS OF THE SHOES, THE FRAMELIKE SIDE MEMBERS COMPRISING DOWNWARD PROJECTIONS AND ON BOTH ENDS UPSTANDING LUGS HAVING OUTWARDLY DISPOSED STUDS THAT FORM PART OF THE CLOSURE MEANS, THE HELICAL SPRINGS THAT ARE BENT IN ZIG-ZAG FASHION ALONG A PLURALITY OF THEIR WINDINGS ON THEIR ENDS AS WELL AS ON THEIR KNEE POINTS BEING CAST IN SAID SIDEMEMBER-LUGS, AND IN WHICH THE HELICAL SPRINGS EXTEND IN DIFFERENT TRANSVERSE DIRECTIONS WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER. 